Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican was the 32nd senator to back the legislation.

Saland said: "I have defined doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality, and that equality includes the definition of marriage. I fear that to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing."

"Marriage says that we are family," Duane said. "Louis and I are family. And marriage strengthens all family. It's going to strengthen my family and all New York families." -Senator Tom Duane

"It is unbelievable that the Republican Party, the party that always defended family values … is allowing a Democratic governor to divide the Republican Party and the Conservative Party," Diaz said. "Same-sex marriage has been rejected by the majority of Americans when given the opportunity to vote for it." - Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.

This makes New York State the sixth to legalize same sex marriage, joining Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.